Movable forms for erecting concrete towers

ABSTRACT

The present patent relates to a kind of movable form, sliding forms ( 02 ) for molding concrete towers of a large variety of shapes, in particular in wind farms, communication towers, the forms moving vertically from the beginning to the end of the construction, in a semi-automated or automated system for uninterrupted and continuous construction of the tower. The movable/sliding form ( 02 ) is vertically moved in that a sliding cover ( 08 ) with upper and lower rollers ( 06 ) is used, as well as a honed metal plate ( 07 ) forming the body, connected to a kind of fork ( 03 ) which maintains the thickness of the concrete wall, together with cables and ties joined to the metal tower ( 01 ), which by being moved by a rack-and-pinion system make it possible to build the tower.

The present disclosure relates to the ordered system for the construction of concrete towers, in the most diverse shapes, such as quadrilateral, cylindrical, oval, conical, in order to be predominantly used in wind farms and communication towers, as well as in the construction of silos, chimneys, bridge pillars, etc. It consists essentially of a set of movable forms, which function as forms for concrete filling, continuous or not, of towers or pillars.

The movable form, responsible for molding the concrete tower, being built is basically assembled through a set formed by the separators/spacers for concrete wall thickness (forms), which, by means of cables and ties, are joined to a central assembly metal tower. Such assembly, moved by a rack-and-pinion system, provides a continuous, uninterrupted lifting of the sliding belt assembly in the construction.

The internal and external movable forms are assembled along the periphery of the tower/concrete pillar to be constructed, which gives it a conical shape, when so designed, due to its capacity to reduce the diameter through the vertical movement of the forms.

During the construction of the tower, as an element of integration between two movable forms, and depending on whether the construction of the tower is uninterrupted and/or continuous, passthrough retaining plates and/or passthrough forms may be employed, which are positioned between both movable forms.

The use of movable forms for erecting concrete towers will certainly bring countless benefits, namely:

-   -   there is no need to handle large pieces, both in width and         height, and no need to use cranes to move them;     -   savings both in manpower and in operations regarding concrete         forming/dismantling, notably due to the fact that the same         movable forms will be used from the beginning to the end of the         intended construction;     -   significant savings in terms of time spent in the intended         construction, due to the possibility of a vertical slide of the         form, as soon as the concrete curing allows it, to accommodate a         new portion of concrete—even when using an uninterrupted         construction system to build the tower or similar;     -   external finishing of the tower or similar.

Because the movable form has a polished external surface, which supports the concrete filling and slides vertically, aesthetic effects are noticed in the construction, greatly reducing the need for finishing, plasters, etc., after completion of the work.

For better understanding the present patent, refer to the drawings herewith.

FIG. 01: Front view of the metal tower 01, especially used in the construction of towers for wind farms or communications, with concrete filling in a continuous, uninterrupted, automated or semi-automated way. The present figure shows the sliding movable forms 02, internal and external, responsible for the maintenance of the wall thickness of the concrete tower, which are assembled in the metal tower by means of fork spacers 03.

FIG. 02: Top view of the metal tower 01, where is seen the sliding movable forms 02, the fork spacers 03, the passthrough retaining plates 04 and the steel cables 05, able to maintain the internal diameter of the tower.

FIG. 03: Top sectioned view of the concrete filling process in the construction of the tower, showing the sliding movable forms 02, the passthrough retaining plates 04, the concrete mass 05, the fork spacers 03 and the form lifters 06, attached to the metal tower 01.

FIG. 04: sequence view of the assemblies formed by the fork spacers 03 with sliding movable forms 02, passthrough retaining plates 04, and the concrete wall of the tower under construction 05.

FIG. 05: sectioned front view of the fork spacers 03 with the sliding movable form 02 and their rollers 06.

FIG. 06: Perspective view of the assemble formed by the fork spacer 03 and the sliding movable forms 02.

FIG. 07: View showing the attachment of the sliding movable form 02 to the fork spacer 03.

FIG. 08: The drawing shows the front and the back of the sliding movable form components 02. It is located on the front of the honed metal plate 07, which is responsible for facilitating the movement of the sliding cover 08 during the vertical movement for the next concreting section, when continuing the construction of the Tower. The upper and lower rollers 06 help in the sliding of the sliding cover 08. Reinforcements 09 are present at the rear of the form body, increasing the form resistance 02, as well as fixing it to the fork spacer 03.

FIG. 09: Demonstrative view of the sliding cover 08 on the back and front of sliding movable form 02.

FIG. 10: Front view of a set of sliding movable forms 02 with the passthrough retaining plates 04, assembled on the rear side of the tread spacer forks 03. 

What is claimed is:
 1. Movable forms for erecting concrete towers to be predominantly used in the construction of concrete towers, quadrilateral, conical, and other shapes, in the production of wind power and communication, wherein a set composed of fork spacers 03, which defines the wall thickness of the tower/pillar, etc. where it is assembled either on the front or on the back sliding movable forms 02, which move vertically from the beginning to the end of the construction site, are employed as molds in the tower concrete filling process, either in semi or automated systems, for the uninterrupted and continuous construction of the tower; the fork spacers 03 are installed in a metal building tower 01 along its entire periphery, so that its movement causes the vertical and synchronized displacement of the entire set of fork spacers 03 with their respective forms 02; in the concrete filling process, transposing the previous and next sliding movable forms 02 so as not to allow the drainage of the concrete mass, the passthrough retaining plates 04 are located.
 2. Movable forms for erecting concrete towers to be predominantly used in the construction of concrete towers quadrilateral, conical, and other shapes, in the production of wind power and communication of claim 1, wherein the sliding movable form 02, composed of a body with rollers 06, a honed metal plate 07, a sliding cover 08 and reinforcements 09; both lower and upper rollers 06 facilitate the vertical movement of the sliding movable form 02, when moving to the next section of the concrete filling, along with the sliding cover 08, which involves the whole front section of the body, supported by the honed metal plate 07, being responsible for the direct contact with the concrete mass
 05. 